Corset-stay.



PATENTED APR. 26

0- H. CUNNINGHAM.

CORSET STAY.

APPLICATION FILED 0013.28, 1903.

N0 MODEL.

w: nonms izrans 00.. wuroumoJwAsumm-on, u. c

' UNITED STATES Patented April 26, 1904.

PATE T OFFICE.

CLARA H. CUNNINGHAM, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ASSIGNOR OFONE-HALF TO JOSEPH R. EDSON, OF WASHINGTON,

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.-

CORSET-STAY.

SPECIFICATION forming part c: ters Patent No. 758,585, dated. April 26,1904. Application filed October 28, 190 3. $erialN0-1'78,817. (N0model.)

vented new and useful Improvements in Corset-Stays, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in what may be termed corset-stays,the front@ main stays or busks equipped with means for connecting orfastening together their adj a.

cent edges.

Nearly every woman knows the discomfort resulting from the use of thecorset as at pres-;

ent worn, due to the pressure exerted by the stright-cut front staysupon the chest, the evil efl'ects of which have not heretofore beenoverplacing a wad or packing of some soft or suit.-

able material just back of the stay or stays at,

a point suggesting the application thereof to remedy the trouble; buteven this has proven unsatisfactory. s

In my invention the aforesaid difficulty has been efiectually remediedby so contriving the front fastening-stays as to cause them when broughtinto position to fasten their adjacent edges to extend away from thebody of the wearer and remove or reduce pressure or digging effect ofthe stays which produces so much discomfort to most of the wearers ofcorsets. Besides promoting comfort of the wearer a corset equipped withmy improved stay permits the lungs andehest to perform their functionsmore freely and naturally.

Said invention consists, generically, of a corset-fastening stay withthat portion thereof from about the waste-line upward adapted orarranged to normally extend in a diagonal line laterally, asdifferentiated from being straight, substantially as hereinafter morefully disclosed, and pointed out by the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating the preferred embodiment ofmy invention, Figure 1 is a View showing the same as applied for use.Fig. 2 shows detached or disconnected views of. the fastening-stays,more fully disclosing the invention; and Fig. 3 is an edge The expedienthas been resorted to of elevation thereof in their connected-togetherposition,as when the corset is secured upon the body.

In the carrying out of my invention I pref erably contrive or constructa corset-fastening stay or busk-as exampled by the showing in thedrawings, wherein A is the right-hand fastening stay or steel, and B isthe lefthand fastening stay or steel, of a corset, which stay or staysmay, however, bev produced of aluminium or other suitable material forthe purpose. Said fastening-stay has its lower end portion A preferablyextendingin a right line from about the waist-line A downward and itsupper portion A deflected or inclined from about said waist-line upwardlaterally, as contradistinguished from extending upwardly in a straightline when viewed from:

the front in its normal position or before the stay has been broughtinto position to be fastened to its companion'or opposite stay afterthecorset has been placed upon the body of the wearer. The'eifect of thislateral extension of duplicate stays is that the stays will cross eachother, after thefashion of an X, above the waist-line in their initialposition, but the inner or free edges of the stays will be parallel whenthe stays'are brought into position to bring their edges .into alinementfor fastening them together in securing a corset upon the body. Inbringing the stays forward, sidewise from the body, the stays incross-section become arcs of circles of increasing diameter from belowupward. Now as these stays are disposed or moved so as to effectengagement between their fastenings, which may consist of hooks andapertured or slotted lugs or other suitable means, as E, the upperinclined or crossingportions of said stays will finally assume theposition as shown in Fig. 1, thus causing said portions to stand orincline slightly outward and upward away from the body, resulting, asaforesaid, to relieve the parts of all pressure, as would otherwise bethe case. Also with the corset thus peaked or offset toward the upperedge along its central portion a certain prevalent set or pattern,pompadour form, is imparted to the body of the dress of the wearer. Alsoit is noted that when the lower portions of said fastening-stays standparallel to each other below the waist-line the corset will impart tothe figure of the wearer the perfection of the straight-front corseteffect, thus combining health, comfort, and attractiveness. Again, it isobserved that the fastening-stay may be incased, as is usual, withintextile material, after the form, for instance, of a gusset, with asuitable extending portion or margin for its ready attachment by sewingto an ordinary corset in that form for sale in stores where such goodsmay be had. The gusset form of the textile material will not benecessary on stays that are designed to be used on corsets which whenmanufactured embodied my improve ments. Said fastening-stay may beoffered for sale in its initial or original form, as has been done withlike goods of other make. Further, it will be noted that my inventionmay be employed on stays which extend or curve outwardly from the medianline of the body. In other words, it will be understood that theposition or direction of the stays below the waist-line does not affector in any way modify my invention. line or the portion of the corsetbelow the waist-line having been established, my invention requires thatthe stays above said waist-line, or at least the inner edges thereof,shall extend inward instead of being parallel when the stays are flator, when viewed from the front, are as heretofore substantiallystraight. In fastening a'corset provided with my improved stays it ispreferable to fasten the same from below upward.

Latitudeis allowed as to details herein, as they may be changed ascircumstances suggest without departing from the spirit of my inventionand the latter still be protected-as, for example, the lateralinclination of the upper portion of the stay may begin at a pointsomewhat above the waist-line without departing from my invention orsacrificing the advantages thereof.

Having thus described my invention, what A given waist-' I claim as new,and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A corset fastening stay or busk having a portion thereof, above thewaist-line, inclined or deflected, laterally.

2. A corset fastening stay or busk having a portion thereof, above thewaist-line, inclined or deflected, laterally, in the direction of itsopposite stay.

3. A corset fastening stay or busk having a portion thereof, below thewaist-line, extended downward in a right line, and that portion abovesaid line inclined or deflected upward out of a right line, laterally.

4. Corset busks or fastening-stays, each having below the waist-line adownward-extended right-line edge, and extended or deflected above thatline in a laterally-inclined direction, said busks or stays having theirupper inclined portions adapted to initially cross each other andfinally to form a central outward and forward upper edge peak in thefront portion of the corset.

5. Corset busks 0r stays, each having below the waist-line a downwardright-line edge,

and deflected above that line upward, laterally, and having fasteningsfor effecting connection therebetween, said upper deflected portionscrossing each other in their initial position and peaked at their upperuniting edges outward and upward, about centrally of the-upper edge ofthe corset.

6. In a corset, corset busks or stays, each having below the waist-linea downward rightline edge, and deflected above that line upward,laterally, and having fastenings for effecting connection therebetween,said upper deflected portions crossing each other in their initialposition and peaked at their upper uniting edges outward and upward,about centrally of the upper edge of the corset.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

CLARA H. CUNNINGHAM.

Witnesses:

GEO. H. SNYDER, WM. H. DELACY.

